THIS PAY CUT IS NOT CUTTING IT FOR DRIVERS
Uber and Lyft drivers in cities across the country began to strike Wednesday to protest low pay among several other labor concerns.
Drivers argue that Uber and Lyft profit off the backs of employees, leaving them with low wages and without access to full-time employment benefits despite working long hours.
The drivers started their two-hour strike in New York during Wednesday’s morning rush hour from 7 to 9 a.m. and planned to rally outside Uber and Lyft’s headquarters in Queens in the afternoon to share their demands for job security, a livable wage and greater fare regulations.
Drivers in other cities are also expected to join the protest. In Atlanta, drivers will be participating in a 12-hour strike from noon to midnight.
It is fairly clear that Uber and Lyft, both losing billions of dollars annually, are struggling to make ends meet. Both companies have said they would suffer financially if they offered their employees full-time benefits and higher wages.
Uber openly stated that its “business would be adversely affected if Drivers were classified as employees instead of independent contractors.” Lyft said that if the “contractor classification of drivers that use our platform is challenged, there may be adverse business, financial, tax, legal and other consequences.”
Ride-sharing drivers say that Uber executives are set to make a bundle once the company’s stock hits the market Friday, while the employees have only watched their wages sink.
No comments